[mdb2]

Hi everybody, is it me! Is this year worse? am I just unfortunate? I am covered in bites this year! Can anybody give me advice on repellents and bite creams that they are happy to use. Kind regards. Mike

[Ratal]

Smidge that midge. Hand on heart a revolutionary repellent. All day by the side of a midge infested loch, not a single bite, nor do they swarm around you. Despise the stuff is an understatement. Works on ticks as well just as effectively.

Clegg will come in to approach, get one sniff and appear to lose the ability to fly straight lol. Totally non-deet, safe for kids down to three years old and smells a fresh soap scent.

[mdb2]

Hi Ratal, straight onto amazon ordered, will post back when tried. If it works in Scotland with your midges should have no problem down south. I currently have 15 very itchy bites just how they get to some parts of the body I cannot understand. Thanks. Mike

[Ratal]

Smidge combines Saltidin and a waterproofing agent to give long-lasting, family-friendly skin protection against a range of biting insects, in both temperate and tropical areas. Saltidin is approved by the World Health Authority and will protect you from the depths of the Scottish Highlands across to your favourite overseas retreat.Suppliers to VisitScotland, the Scottish Youth Hostel Association, National Trust for Scotland and Forestry Commission Scotland.


A quote from Smidge website. Once I saw the Forestry lads up here using it, I snapped a try and have never looked back. It seriously is the absolute best I have ever tried. Cleggs drop, simply one sniff, to the floor. Its brill.

[Jaff]

There's the legendary Avon Skin So Soft stuff. Supposed to be very good, even if it is not exactly branded as an insect repellent.

[Marys1000]

a search on the US amazon for smidge that midge did not come up with anything. Can we not get it in the US?

[Geoff Brown]

Our local guide on a recent birding holiday also highly recommended Smidge.

[RJM]

Originally Posted by Marys1000

a search on the US amazon for smidge that midge did not come up with anything. Can we not get it in the US?

Search for " Picaridin " instead. The active ingredient in Smidge that Midge, Saltidin, is just a trade name for picaridin.

In the USA, Natrapel 8hr is a brand that works well.

Like all repellents, the higher the concentration of the active ingredient, the longer/better it works. I think the CDC in the USA recommends 20% Picaridin.

[lmans66]

Try something natural...citrus juice such as lemon mixed with water...place onto your arms etc.... I hear that works, jim

[Jaff]

Originally Posted by lmans66

Try something natural...citrus juice such as lemon mixed with water...place onto your arms etc.... I hear that works, jim

And leaves you smelling fresh all day long. LOL!

[etudiant]

It may be worth considering insect repellent clothing as an alternative.
The Ex Officio line here: http://www.exofficio.com/search/bugsaway worked well for me both in the US northeast and in the tropics. The socks keep the chiggers discouraged and the gear is washable without loosing its properties.
I've been down on repellent creams ever since the incident a few years back where a kid died because he had really soaked himself in deterrent.

[johnf3f]

Originally Posted by Jaff

There's the legendary Avon Skin So Soft stuff. Supposed to be very good, even if it is not exactly branded as an insect repellent.

+1 - this stuff works!

[gergrd]

I started using Ex Officio bugsaway clothing (shirts, pants, socks) this summer and found it to be very effective - never picked up one tick this whole season. I was out on group walks where my compatriots were picking off ticks left and right and they just left me alone. I also avoided poison ivy wearing long Ex Officio pants (which are very lightweight) vs the shorts I always used to wear. A few other U.S. manufacturers also have bugsaway clothing. I've also used permethrin clothing spray made by Sawyer - it seems to be effective, but needs to be reapplied after 2 or 3 washings - the bugsaway clothing theoretically lasts through 70 wash cycles. I don't believe Sawyer products are available in the UK, but there are comparable permethrin sprays from other manufacturers.

[KCFoggin]

I'm don't mean to side track this thread but do you guys, on the other side of the pond, have any problems with the West Nile Disease?

[robinm]

As far as I know, the only cases of WNV in the UK have been of people who have travelled abroad.

[Hauki]

Originally Posted by Jaff

There's the legendary Avon Skin So Soft stuff. Supposed to be very good, even if it is not exactly branded as an insect repellent.

+1 for the Avon Skin So Soft

[andrew_s]

Originally Posted by gergrd

I started using Ex Officio bugsaway clothing (shirts, pants, socks) this summer and found it to be very effective - never picked up one tick this whole season.
...
I don't believe Sawyer products are available in the UK, but there are comparable permethrin sprays from other manufacturers.

Permethrin is a bug killer rather than a repellent, so whilst it's good for crawlers like ticks, with a swarm of midges the death of the ones that target your clothes instead of your skin won't make a lot of difference.
In the UK the easiest source is the Lifesystems displays in Blacks etc. It's usually aimed at treating mozzy nets.

[pyenester]

Avon Skin So Soft has changed its formula and doesn't seem to work now.

John

[Surrey Sam]

I've been happily using Repel 55 which is a deet based product. It feels a little greasy when first applied but once fully absorbed by the skin it's fine and provides great all day protection.

[nick scarle]

I've used RID a few times and it seems to work very well. Purchased from The Safari Store:

http://www.thesafaristore.co.uk/prod...sect-Repellent

Nick

[tjsimonsen]

When we lived in Canada, we used repellants containing DEET (normally 10-25%), but I don't know if that's actually legal to sell in Europe, it's pretty nasty to tell the truth. So we wouldn't use it now with a toddler in the house in any case.

Now my wife make a mix of peanut oil, lemon grass oil and rubbing alcohol: 100ml = 2ml peanut oil, 5ml lemon grass oil, 93ml rubbing alcohol. You shouldn't rub it in your eyes, but other than that it's pretty harmless. We haven't had much use for the stuff so far (there's way fewer biting insects in the UK compared to western Canada!). But it seems to be pretty effective.

Thomas

[Roger P]

http://www.lessmosquito.com/

A complete system and not cheap if you follow all the instructions but I started to prepare for a trip by using body scrub and then body / hair wash for a few days, I went out on a walk without thinking about insects when well all returned I was the only one totally free of bites, usually I'm the first to get bitten and react quite dramatically! I hadn't even thought to use the spray.

Talked to the owner of the company at the BirdFair, seems a very straightforward and enthusiastic chap!

I hate the side effects of DEET and found that Avon skin so soft had to re-applied every 20 mins or so - really impractical.

[johnf3f]

Originally Posted by pyenester

Avon Skin So Soft has changed its formula and doesn't seem to work now.

John

The SAS are going to be a bit miffed! They used to use a non scented version produced for them.